I'd like to setup the RPi3's bluetooth so I can use it to connect to the console (e.g. from my laptop)
(I currently use usb-serial cables for this, but my students keep breaking them )
Thanks in advance for any pointers to achieving this,
-Duncan.

You can setup a Bluetooth serial port as a getty console, but I don't know of any Bluetooth serial programs for the laptop (what OS?). Or you can configure a Bluetooth Personal Area Network; that gets more difficult with IP addresses. Why not use WiFi?

>"You can setup a Bluetooth serial port as a getty console"
Yes, I think that's exactly what I'd like to do... do you have any pointers?
(I'm presuming this happens after boot, so I wouldn't be able to see boot messages)
>"Why not use WiFi?"
I'm just trying things out of curiosity